Shutter grille



Dec. 24, 1940. E R PENMAN 2,225,885 2 SHUTTER GRILLE Filed May 3l, 1938J l Syvum/VTM Z/ JU 2 26 Frank 2. Penman @itl Patented Dec. 24, 19,40

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,225,885 l `slnU'rrltR GRILLE Frank R..Penman, Nacogdoches, Tex. Application May 81, 1988, sefiai No. 210,877 6claims. (ci. esi-116) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovernents in shutter grilles.

It has become the practice to cool apartments and homes, as well ascommercial structures, Iby setting up a constant circulation of airthrough the building. This circulation is accomplished by a method,generally known as attic ventilation, which comprises providing anopening in the ceiling of one of the rooms and placing a suction fan orblower in the attic above said opening. When the fan is operated, air isdrawn from the rooms of the building into the attic and is then forcedfrom said attic through an open window, or other discharge openingprovided for the purpose. 'I'he windows of the rooms of the building arealso opened, with the result that a constant circulation of fresh airthrough the building and attic is obtained. Thus, the stagnant hot air,which is normally trapped in the 2o attic of the building, is removedand this, to-

gether with the constant circulation or draft of fresh air through therooms, results in a cooling of the building.

Ordinarily, the opening in the ceiling below the fan is smaller than thefan housing in order to permit saidhousing to be supported thereabove onthe attic floor and, therefore, the fan must be inserted through theattic, instead of through said opening. Further, it has been thepractice to cover the opening with a grating which prevents the passageof objects through the opening but permits the passage of airtherethrough. When the fan is not operating, air can circulate from therooms of the building to the attic and this is most undesirable, as wellas dangerous in case of fire in the building because, obviously, athrough draft would greatly increase the re hazard. To overcome thisdisadvantage, doors have been provided to swing over the grating toclose the opening, as well as to cover the grating which is ratherunsightly in appearance. One object of the invention is to provide animproved shutter grille for closing the ceiling opening in an atticventilation system, which grille is'attractive inappearance and readilyinstalled; the use of the grille permitting the opening to beV made of asufficient size to allow the blower to be inserted into the atticthrough the 50 grille, whereby installation of the blower isfacilitated. n

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved shuttergrille, of the character described, which is normally in a positionclosing the openingr and which is arranged to automatically open topermit iiow of air therethrough, when the blower is operated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved grilleconstructed of a plurality of overlapping slats which are mounted toallow 5 swinging thereof to separate the slats, whereby passage of airtherethrough is permitted; the construction of the slats being such thatwhen in a closed position, the appearance of a solid closure isproduced,which makes for an attracl0 tive and neat appearance.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved grilleincluding .shutters which are mounted within a frame, whereby the lattermay be lhinged to the ceiling in a position overlying 15 the opening;such arrangement permitting the entire` unit 'to be swung from a closedto an open position, whereby access to the blower and attic may be had.

A construction designed to carry out the in- 20 vention will behereinafter described, together with other features of the Invention.

`The invention will be more readily understood from a reading ofthefollowing specifications and by reference to the accompanying drawing,25 in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a building having an attic Ventilatingsystem installed therein, a portion of the building `wall and roof beingbroken 30 awayto more clearly illustrate the installation,

Figure 2 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view taken through theceiling of the room and showing the blower or fan with the improvedshutter grille, constructed in accordance with the invention, closingthe opening in said ceiling,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken through the shutter andshowing the same in itsv open position,

Figure 4 is an elevation or face view of the o shutter grille, viewingthe same from its underside,

Figure 5 is a plan View, and

`ligure 6 is a transverse, sectional view taken on the line 6-6 ofFigure 5.

In the drawing, the numeral I0 .designates a building, such as anordinary cottage or bungalow. The ceiling I2 of one of the rooms isformed with an opening I I, whereby a communication between the attic Aand the interior of 5,0 the room R. is established. The opening II has ageneral rectangular shape corresponding to the general shape of therectangular casing I3 of a blower or fan I4. The size of the opening Ilis such that the fan may be inserted up- 6l;

wardly therethrough into the attic A from the room R. The fan or blowermay be of any desired construction and may be purchased on the openmarket. The casing of said fan may be supported in any suitable mannerabove the opening Il, but it is preferable to support the same on bars I5 which extend transversely across the ends of the opening I I.

When the fan I4 is operating, fresh air is drawn from outside thebuilding lil through the open windows therein. This fresh 'air is drawnthrough the rooms of the building and is pulled upwardly through theopening II into the casing I3 of the fan; from the casing, the air isforced .outwardly through a suitable window I U provided in the atticwall. In this manner, fresh air is constantly circulated through therooms of the building, as well as through the attic, with the resultthat hot air which mightaccumulate in said attic is removed. Theconstant circulation of fresh air through the rooms sets up a draftwhich results in cooling. The foregoing is the usual type ofv atticventilation which has come into use in the past several years and it isspecifically pointed out vthat vthe particular blower or fan, togetherwith its associated parts, is subject to variation.

For controlling the flow of air through the opening II, whereby saidopening is closed when the fan I 4 is not operating, a shutter grille I6is adapted to be secured to the ceiling I2 so as'to overlie .saidopening. The grille includes a substantially rectangular outer frame I1which is nailed, or otherwise secured, to the ceiling. An inner frame I8is adapted to t within the outer frame I1 and is hinged to said outerframe along one longitudinal side thereof by suitable hinges I 9,whereby the inner frame may be swung downwardly to permit access to theblower I4. The inner frame is normally held vwithin the outer frame bymeans of suitable pivotal latches 29, which latches are mounted` on theouter frame and are adapted `to be rotated so that their ends overliethe inner frame, as is clearly shown in Figure 4.

i longitudinal edge of said slat, whereby the straps permit a limitedupward swinging of the slat. Each slat has its longitudinal edge portionoverlapping the longitudinal edge portion of the adjacent slat and, asis clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, one-half of said slats are directedinwardly toward the transverse center of the frame, while the other halfare also directed inwardly toward the transverse center. When the slatsare in a lowered or closed position (Figure 2) they rest upon alongitudinal supporting `bar 23, which is secured centrally within theinner frame I8.

Normally, when the blower I4 is not operating, the weight of said slatscauses them to fall to a closed vor overlapping position. as shown inFigure 2, with the result that a ow of air through the opening I I isnot permitted. When the fan or blower I4 is started, the suction createdby said fan causes the slats to be pulled upwardly to the position shownin Figure 3, whereby air may be drawn therethrough. It is noted that theslats being of relatively light material are readily movable to an openposition by the suction of the fan. So long as the fan is operating, theslats remain in open position to permit the necessary circulation of airthrough the rooms and attic. As soon as operation .of the fan isstopped, the slats will, by gravity, fall to their lowered position toautomatically close the opening II. In this manner, the operation of theslats is entirely automatic, being controlled by the fan.

Since the slats are constructed of a relatively thin and light material,their appearance, when in a closed position, gives the effect of a solidclosure, whereby they do not detract from the appearance of the room.When it is desired to gain access tothe attic yor the blower I4, it isonly necessary to swing the pivoted latches 20 which permits the entireinner frame I8 to swing downwardly on its hinges I9, after which accessto the blower through the outer frame I'I may be had. Although the slatshave been shown as secured to the frame I8 by means of leather straps22, it is obvious that other means of mounting said slats may beemployed. Also the particular disposition of the slats is subject tovariation.

Whatl I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A shutter grille including, a frame, and a plurality of transverselyextending slats mounted in overlapping relation on the frame, each slatbeing fastened to the frame at its ends and nearer one longitudinal edgethereof by strips of flexible-material, whereby said slat may undergo alimited swinging movement.

2. A shutter grille for closing the air opening adjacent a blower fanincluding, a frame, and a plurality of slats extending transversely ofthe frame and normally closing the opening and arranged to be moved toan open position by the suction yof the fan to permit passage of airthrough the opening, the slats being fastened to the frame by strips ofexible material which tend to hold the same in a closed position.

3. A shutter grille for closing the air opening adjacent a blower fanincluding, an outer frame surrounding the opening, an inner frame hingedto the Vouter frame and arranged to be swung within said outer frame,and a plurality of transverse slats mounted in the inner frame and beingnormally in overlapping relation to each other to close the air opening,said slats being adapted to be automatically moved from overlappingposition when the fan is operated whereby circulation of air through theopening is permitted, and strips of flexiblematerial for fastening theslats to saidv inner frame.

4. A shutter grille for closing the air opening adjacent a blower fanincluding, an outer frame surrounding the opening, an inner frame withinsaid outer frame, and a plurality of transversely extending metallicslats mounted in .overlapping relation on the inner frame, each slatbeing flexible and being fastened byA strips of flexible material to theframe at its ends and nearer one longitudinal edge thereof, whereby theopposite longitudinal edge of said slat may undergo a limited swingingmovement.

5. AY shutter grille for closing't'he air opening adjacent a blower fanincluding, an outer frame surrounding the opening, an inner frame withinsaid outer frame, a plurality of transversely eX- tending slats mountedin overlapping relation on the inner frame, and strips of iiexiblematerial for fastening each slat to the frame at its ends and nearer onelongitudinal edge thereof, whereby said slat may undergo a limitedswinging movement, said slats being of suflciently light material topermit the blower suction to bend and swing the same from overlappingpo- 10 sition.

6. The combination with an attic Ventilating system of a building havingan air opening in the ceiling of a room and also having a fan in theattic and adjacent the opening, of a shutter grille including, aplurality of transversely extending slats normally disposed inoverlapping relation to close the air opening .and arranged to be swungfrom overlapping position by the fan suction, whereby air may passthrough said opening when the fan is operating, and flexible straps forfastening the slats in position.

FRANK R. PENMAN.

